Calling All Girls, Ages 13 and Up

Have you heard about the Amanda Project?  It's a fictional story about Amanda Valentino, who arrived at Endeavor High School last Halloween and disappeared on the Ides of March.  Now, her three friends are trying to find out what happened, who she really is, and where she's gone. 

The best part about this project is that it involves you.  All girls over the age of 13 are welcome to register on the website and start writing their own stories about Amanda.  Maybe you want to have a character that's just like you, or maybe you want to write about someone who is nothing like you.  Maybe your character goes to that high school or works in town.  It doesn't really matter who you are or who your character is: just write more of Amanda's story and add it to the growing collection online.

To get started, read the first book in what will eventually be a series of eight books.  Then, start writing.  The Project will publish zines with girls' stories, and some stories might even make it into the next books in the series.

Kantor, Melissa (2009). Invisible I (Gr. 7+)

15-year-old Amanda has disappeared, leaving Callie, Hal, and Nia in trouble.  As the three teenages piece together clues, they're left with more questions than answers.  Who is Amanda?  Why has she told three people three different stories about herself?  Where did she go?  Cliques, high school politics, and family secrets round out this mystery, making it much more involved than your average whodunnit.

Audio Books, streaming through your computer

There's something exciting about listening to a story.  Even a favorite book that you've read and re-read a hundred times can seem brand new when you listen to someone else read it out loud.  The library has lots of books on tape, CD, and PlayAway (it's a little mp3 player), but did you know that you can also find some audio books online?

Storyline Online is a great place to look for read-aloud picture books.  All of the books are read by actors who are part of the Screen Actor's Guild--a group for movie and television actors--and you can watch the whole story on your computer screen.  There are illustrations, some animations, and a video of the actor as he or she reads the words.

Kiddie Records also has recordings of picture books from the 1940's and 1950's.  One of my favorites is a recording of Ruth Krauss's book, The Carrot Seed. 

Krauss, Ruth (1945). The Carrot Seed (PreS-Gr. 2)

(The link will open a streaming audio file on your computer.  Read by Norman Rose. Recorded by the Children's Record Guild.)  A little boy finds a carrot seed and decides to plant it, even though his parents and his brother all say that it isn't going to grow.  He waters it and pulls out weeds every day, waiting to see what will grow.  The recording adds many lines to the story, but the music and sound effects are a lot of fun.